Page 68 of This Blood That Breaks Us

The cathedral was a warmer stone than the one on the island, and taller. Much taller. As I admired the stained glass on our way in, I thought of Her, and my heart kicked. This feeling of need would never end. I’d always want Her. No matter where I was in the world. As long as we both walked the earth, I’d feel Her waiting for me.

It was too late to worry about it. I wasn’t second-guessing, but it was setting in. Running away was running away from Her. It would free me, but I might never fully be free.

Tourists lined the floors of the cathedral. I didn’t know exactly where I was going as I darted out of view and went for the halls. I worked solely from the knowledge I had from the pamphlet. A few people tried to stop us but compelling them for a few seconds was all we needed to weasel past them. We walked till we found a door and then another. Until we were face-to-face with a dimly lit set of stairs leading underground.

I checked the phone again. “Ezra’s all the way back at McKinnley’s.”

“Good head start.” Zach’s eyes were filled with determination.

There was a light at the end of the tunnel. We’d done it. The plan worked. We descended the steps, and Thane and Will were waiting in a narrow concrete tunnel

“Took you both long enough,” Will said as he puffed on a cigarette.

“You did it! Did anyone see you?” Thane said.

“No. We don’t think so. And we have a tracker on Ezra so we’ll be able to see how close he is.”

Thane beamed. “Genius.”

Zach walked up to Will with his arms crossed. “You smell like dead fish. How’d you like dirtying those pant legs?”

Will flipped him off and offered him a cigarette. All at once, I let in the hope I’d tried so hard to keep in check. We could hide out for as long as it took. Get back to America.

And then . . . we could be together again. Shoveling snow. I’d chop wood for the fireplace. This whole nightmare would be a long-forgotten memory. It wouldn’t be perfect, but I could cope. Even if we never got to quit running, I wanted it. I was sure this time.

After our reunion, we moved quickly through the tunnels. It was mostly dry and smelled of moist stones and asphalt. There wasn’t much to see other than a few rats.

Then I could see it. A glowing light at the end. I could even hear cars overhead. We made it. The hard part was done. It would be only a few days, then it was over. I imagined it. Embracing my family again and enjoying the shake of their laughter and the warmth of their cheeks on mine. The tightness in my chest would finally loosen.

Someone stepped into the light.

Sirius was waiting.

He stood before us with a look I’d never seen before. There was no smile or scowl. He held my gaze with a bored detachment.

How?The sudden feeling of warmth on my face signaled me to the danger long before my brain comprehended.

“I didn’t want to believe it was true. That you boys have traitorous hearts. But time and time again, you show me how wild your spirits are. And wild spirits must be tamed.”

How had he known? Even if he’d figured it out, he’d never be able to get on the ferry and get this far in the tunnels. I swallowed. There was no place to escape he wouldn’t catch one of us.

“How did you know?” I asked.

“Did you think we didn’t keep an eye on them? On you? I know where you are every minute of every day.”

“You did it as a test, leaving their door open at night. Giving us freedom.”

“Loyalty demands to be tested. Ezra believed you’d stay on The Divine Path, but I knew this rebellious streak would be harder to break. Some lessons must be carved into the brain with a knife, but it eventually gets the picture.”

My face felt hot, and my lips tingled.Luke, focus.

“Will, take Thane and go.”

Thane protested, but Will grabbed him by the shirt and moved toward the back of the tunnel, but that way was blocked too. Ezra stood next to Connell. Both wouldn’t make eye contact with me. This was bad. I thought of fighting first. There was no way we could take two members of The Guard.

“Ezra.” I moved toward him, but Zach stopped me. He looked at Sirius. It took me a second to realize he was protecting me, but I didn’t care about me.

“I guess you boys have to learn the hard way.” Sirius darted to Connell’s side and took him by the arm. Ezra did the same.